Patrick Wolf started his career singing with no microphone or amps in pubs around the country. Ten years on and he's an international success. To celebrate a decade of recording music, he is releasing an anthology album and embarking on a world tour.
Entitled Sundark & Riverlight, this new double album will feature re-recordings from Wolf's entire back catalogue of works, and will be followed up by a world tour, including London and other UK tour dates.
Wolf described the project, saying: 'This project started when I realised I had reached a 10 year jubilee as a recording artist. My first EP came out when I was 19 and in the 10 years hence, my voice has grown with me.
'I started out playing with just one instrument and singing with no microphones in folk clubs, on the streets and galleries. I missed that raw communication so much and the spontaneous energy of that live situation. When I went to the studio I thought I was going to record a one-man solo album, but I started to dream, and heard bassoons and bodhrans.
This is my first totally acoustic album and so I made certain that we were working with analogue tape and recording equipment. I went on a mission to find a grand piano with the best bass response still full of character and I was told about Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, but the piano there was too new for me. So Peter lent me his Bosendorfer Grand and later his bodhran and hammer dulcimer - the album and I are very grateful.'
With tracks from all five of Wolf's studio albums, Sundark & Riverlight will document his journey from folk to pop music and all of the inspirations in between. The songs were not selected on whether they were singles or their popularity with fans, with Wolf selecting the songs that he feels are the most relevant for where both and his fans have progressed to in his musical journey.
He said: 'As a songwriter I realised that some songs take on a life of their own once released. I never knew that Paris from Lycanthropy would become such an anthem for my crowd. Often when I sing the songs live after they are recorded, new words or meanings come to light then I improvise depending on how I am feeling that night.
'I thought It was time after 10 years to take a moment to understand and document what these songs have grown up to be while I’ve been travelling them around the world the last decade.'
29 The Old Vic, London
6 Lowry (Quays Theatre), Manchester
7 The Gate, Cardiff
20 The Sage, Gateshead
24 Arts Centre, Warwick
25 Cottiers, Glasgow
9 The Ritz, Penzance
10 St. Geroges, Bristol
11 St. Mary’s Church, Brighton
Entitled Sundark & Riverlight, this new double album will feature re-recordings from Wolf's entire back catalogue of works, and will be followed up by a world tour, including London and other UK tour dates.
Wolf described the project, saying: 'This project started when I realised I had reached a 10 year jubilee as a recording artist. My first EP came out when I was 19 and in the 10 years hence, my voice has grown with me.
'I started out playing with just one instrument and singing with no microphones in folk clubs, on the streets and galleries. I missed that raw communication so much and the spontaneous energy of that live situation. When I went to the studio I thought I was going to record a one-man solo album, but I started to dream, and heard bassoons and bodhrans.
This is my first totally acoustic album and so I made certain that we were working with analogue tape and recording equipment. I went on a mission to find a grand piano with the best bass response still full of character and I was told about Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, but the piano there was too new for me. So Peter lent me his Bosendorfer Grand and later his bodhran and hammer dulcimer - the album and I are very grateful.'
With tracks from all five of Wolf's studio albums, Sundark & Riverlight will document his journey from folk to pop music and all of the inspirations in between. The songs were not selected on whether they were singles or their popularity with fans, with Wolf selecting the songs that he feels are the most relevant for where both and his fans have progressed to in his musical journey.
He said: 'As a songwriter I realised that some songs take on a life of their own once released. I never knew that Paris from Lycanthropy would become such an anthem for my crowd. Often when I sing the songs live after they are recorded, new words or meanings come to light then I improvise depending on how I am feeling that night.
'I thought It was time after 10 years to take a moment to understand and document what these songs have grown up to be while I’ve been travelling them around the world the last decade.'
UK tour dates (w/support from Abi Wade):
August
29 The Old Vic, London
November
6 Lowry (Quays Theatre), Manchester
7 The Gate, Cardiff
20 The Sage, Gateshead
24 Arts Centre, Warwick
25 Cottiers, Glasgow
December
9 The Ritz, Penzance
10 St. Geroges, Bristol
11 St. Mary’s Church, Brighton
